Golf chipping target and game

ABSTRACT

A pair of targets are placed on a ground surface and spaced apart by about 40 feet. Each has a smaller upper circular hoop positioned above a larger lower hoop which rests on the ground surface. A net is suspended from each of the upper hoops. Players take turns chipping golf balls from one of the targets to the other and receive points for accurately chipping the balls into the nets or within the lower hoop.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation In Part Application of a prior filedapplication having Ser. No. ______ and filing date of ______ andentitled: ______.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and all U.S.patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents and printedmatter cited or referred to in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to golf targets and games that may beplayed with such targets, and more particularly to a golf targetresembling a basket and a game that may be played by two or more golfersby chipping golf balls into the target.

2. Description of Related Art

The following art defines the present state of this field:

Streich, U.S. Pat. No. 2,121,270 describes a hole structure for aputting game comprising a cup-shaped body portion, the bottom of whichis adapted to rest on a playing surface, an annular rim in connectionwith the upper peripheral edge of said cup-shaped body, said rim beinginclined downwardly into contact with the playing surface to form anannular pathway for directing a moving ball from the playing surface upinto the cup-shaped body, the bottom of said cup-shaped body having acentral projection formed with a hole in its tip, and there beingauxiliary openings in said bottom surrounding said projection into oneof which a ball is adapted to be directed, said auxiliary openingshaving different values for scoring purposes, a stake extending throughsaid hole in the tip of the projection and into the playing surface toremovably anchor the structure in position, said central projectionbeing formed with sloping sides to direct the ball away from the stakeand into one of the auxiliary openings, the upper end of said anchoringstake projecting substantially above the cup, and a marking flag carriedby the upper end of said anchoring stake.

Furnari et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,095 describes A lawn golf gameplayable with ordinary golf clubs and bans or wiffle balls on anyreasonable size lawn area in leisure time by individuals or competitiveteams requiring all the skill of conventional golf. Receptacles arelocated in a predetermined pattern or course above ground for receivingthe golf ball. Each receptacle is cylindrically shaped and includes oneclosed end, one open end for receiving a ball, a lip extension forfacilitating the entry of a ball into the receptacle, a conicalprojection adjacent the open end for anchoring the receptacle in place,and a post at the closed end for supporting an identifying flag andanchoring the receptacle in place.

Zawacki, U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,918 describes A portable golf gamecomprises a) a base including a flat center panel, a rim surrounding theback and sides of the center panel; three rows of depressed pockets inthe center panel for receiving a golf ball, and a channel wall joiningthe rim to the center panel, and b) a synthetic grass strip secured toand overlying the center panel, and having a plurality of openingsaligned with the depressed pockets of the center panel. The grass stripextends past the front of the center panel to provide a longitudinalputting surface. The first, second and third rows of pockets includeone, two and three holes, respectively. The pockets in the first andsecond rows are offset from each other and have equal diameters, whichare less than the diameters of the pockets in the third row, whichlatter pockets are offset from the pockets in the second row. The bottomwalls of all the depressed pockets are provided with scoring indicia,which makes the degree of difficulty of a succeeding shot depend uponthe success of the immediately preceding shot.

Fokusek, U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,833 describes an indoor-outdoor golf gamedevice having a golf cup portion of the type having upwardly andinwardly inclining surface portions for guiding balls into its mainopening, the cup being shaped for nesting with like cups for ease ofstorage in the home when not in use. A flag and flag post assemblyadapted to fit through the cup portion and an adapter receivable in arecess in the cup portion for securing the flag post thereto when thedevice is used indoors.

Reck, U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,134 describes a simple, inexpensive and yettotally enjoyable golf game for use outdoors. The game comprises a golfflag assembly insertable into a natural ground surface and at a distancespaced from a tee area. A first annulus is positioned on the groundaround the golf flag assembly and defines a first target area within itsinner periphery. A second annulus, having a diameter greater than thefirst annulus is in turn positioned on the ground surface and around thefirst annulus and defines a second target area between the first andsecond annulus. A hollow and perforated practice golf ball is thenstruck with a standard golf club from the tee area and towards the golfflag assembly. The player's score is determined by the number of strokesnecessary to hit the practice golf ball into either the first or secondtarget area plus a predetermined number of strokes for the target areainto which the practice ball lands. This predetermined number of strokesis larger for the second target area than for the first. Each annulus isconstructed from one or more pieces of tubing, the ends of which may bedetachably joined by a resilient double C-shaped clamp. Centrally of thefirst annulus, a putting cup is staked to the ground by a flag assembly.

Schlueter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,308 describes a game using minimumequipment for playing a sport remotely comparable to golf, the gameincluding nine inverted U-shaped, wire bands for being stuck in theground so to form bridges under which a player kicks a golf ball with afoot so to score, the game also including break away tees from which aball is teed off. A vertical leg is integrally connected to eachinverted U-shaped band and the leg extends through a base member intothe ground. A horizontal pointer is connected to the leg and co-actswith indicia on the base member to indicate the extent of movement ofthe wire bands for scoring purposes

Krumlauf, U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,939 describes a golf chip and putt targetformed of flexible sheet material that is pocketed to form a centerpocket, pairs of longitudinal and lateral pockets each sharing a commonwall with the center pocket and corner pockets diagonally arranged withrespect to the center pocket. The square target includes a borderflange, which rests upon and is attached to a level frame supported byfront and rear pairs of U-legs. These legs mount sleeves of a flexibleback stop having side and rear walls and being open at the front to forma ball collection and return trough around the sides and rear of thetarget. An inclined approach ramp at the front of the target leads to aputting green surface having ball site markings thereon. A teeing matwith ball locator markings is provided at the forward end of the puttinggreen surface. An electrical score-keeping embodiment having anautomatic ball return is disclosed.

Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,591 describes a recreational game device,which may be used indoor or outdoor for use with playing several skillgames. Targets are located on the game device and are used for playingvarious games.

Gubany, U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,671 describes a game apparatus including adevice for forming a simulated hole for a golf-type game in whichplayers strike a ball to propel it into the hole. The device comprises agenerally circular cup sized to receive the game ball, the cup having anopening generally in the center, and a generally frustoconical resilientflange surrounding the cup, the flange sloping downwardly and radiallyoutwardly from the rim of the cup, the lower lip of the flange extendingbelow the bottom of the cup in its uncompressed state. A flagpole foranchoring the apparatus is adapted to extend through the opening in thecup and embed in the ground below the cup. The flagpole includes a plugor other suitable structure for engaging the bottom of the cup to holdthe cup down and compress the resilient flange to hold the lip of theflange against the ground.

Nelson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,891 describes a game target useable with apalm held projectile that is tossed at a target. The projectiles beinglightweight provide safe use by almost all ages. Also, younger playerscan be skilled enough to compete with adults. The target is mounted totube sections, which are loosely spaced on a circular formed tube butsnug enough to hold position until the projectile lands. This fit inaddition to the generally shaped frustum projectile and an inclinedtarget provide the means for the target to capture the projectilelanding squarely on the target-landing surface. The game apparatus canbe used for various games or scoring methods such as horseshoe typescoring, a horse method similar to the basketball game of Horse, use fora hole in one contest or layout of several targets for a short coursegolf type scoring procedure. The apparatus also can provide exercise forthose who prefer activity rather than routine calisthenics. Theapparatus can be used indoors with some care and discretion.

Mauch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,046 describes a novelty golf game including acombination instructional card and golf hole for use in a game in whicha ball is selectively stroked with respect to the hole. The holeincludes an instructional card formed as a foldable board having a baseand two raised surface portions joined at a raised apex and the base andone of the two raised surface portions have holes therein forming anopening through which a golf ball can be stroked.

Dona, U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,704 describes a portable golf game to beplayed with conventional golf balls and golf clubs comprising ninetargets adapted to be randomly positioned on an ordinary lawn to therebyprovide the player with targets for putting or chipping a golf ball. Thetargets define a ring-shaped opening adapted to permit a ball to passthere through. A single support rod extends perpendicularly from eachtarget and is adapted for insertion into the ground. A sign having afirst side and a second side is rigidly attached to each target. Thefirst sides of the signs are consecutively numbered from one to ninewhile the second sides are consecutively numbered from ten to eighteen.Each sign is numbered so that the sum of the numbers on its first sideand its second side equals nineteen. To play the game, the player placesa golf ball on either side of the target having the number six affixedthereto and thereafter hits the golf ball toward the target numbered onein an attempt to hit it through the target. Prior to hitting the ball,the player rotates the target so that the opening therein always facesthe ball. Play continues in this manner until all of the targetsnumbered one through eighteen are traversed in order. The player withthe least amount of strokes after traversing all eighteen targets winsthe game.

Schultz, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,665 describes a new and improvedgolf chipping game apparatus including a ball-hitting assembly and atarget assembly. The target assembly includes a first target region,which has a first surface area, and a second target region, which has asecond surface area. The second surface area is less than the firstsurface area. The ball-hitting assembly and the target assembly are laidout flat on a ground or floor surface in a playing mode. A connectionassembly is provided for connecting the ball-hitting assembly to thetarget assembly in a storage mode. The connection assembly also includesa hinge assembly connected between an edge portion of the ball-hittingassembly and an edge portion of the target assembly. The target assemblyincludes a layer of cushion material, which comprises the first targetregion and the second target region. A first ring of cushion material isplaced on the layer of cushion material and defines a boundary betweenthe first target region and the second target region. A second ring ofcushion material is placed on the layer of cushion material and definesan outer boundary of the first target region. A first handle assembly isconnected to the ball-hitting assembly, and a second handle assembly isconnected to the target assembly. The first handle assembly and thesecond handle assembly are placed in registration when the ball-hittingassembly and the target assembly are connected together in the storagemode.

McLain, U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,115 describes a portable practice target,for propelled balls, including a light-weight plastic tubing andfittings framework that supports a front and a rear panel in anessentially vertical position. Three edges of the panels are attachedtogether so that the panels fit over the vertical support like a sock orpillow case. The front panel can have a central pocket and the rearpanel can have a central opening so that when the panels are positionedover the vertical support, the front panel pocket can be threadedthrough the rear panel opening. Adjustable strips can be used as atarget area and means for adjusting the size of the pocket opening. Theframework vertical support can be held in place by angled or adjustablecouplings that permit the angle between the horizontal plane and thepanels to be adjusted. The panels can be made resilient and elastic torebound any ball that does not enter the pocket.

Dineen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,483 describes a transportable andinexpensive golf toss game including colored tossing bags, golf holecups, flag sticks, markers and a scoring sheet. The game is played bytossing a small bag at receptacles simulating golf holes on a playingcourse planned and set up by the players in a yard, park or outdoor areato resemble a golf course. The course can be conveniently set up atalmost any location and may include obstacles such as trees, shrubs orwater. The golf toss game is challenging yet easy to learn and fun toplay.

Kaulfuerst, U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,776 describes a goal assembly forreceiving and retaining a game ball, such as a soccer ball. The goalassembly has a base for placement on a playing surface and is rampeddownwardly toward the playing surface for receiving an incoming rollinggame ball thereover. The goal assembly also has a side assembly flexiblyattached to the base and extending upwardly. The side assembly has atarget opening at an upper end of the side assembly and allows theincoming rolling game ball to compress one side of the upwardlyextending side assembly and cause the remaining portion of the sideassembly to contract in a direction opposite of the incoming game ball,thereby trapping the game ball within the goal assembly. The goalassembly is particularly desirable in pairs for playing various games.In the preferred embodiment, the goal assembly is sized for receiving asoccer ball, and is very useful as a soccer practice goal. However, thegoal assembly can readily be sized for other game balls, such as forplay with golf balls.

Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,938 describes a game structure for use on ahorizontal or substantially horizontal surface, the structure comprisinga shaft one or more loop members, the shaft including two supportmembers extending from each end of the shaft for supporting the shaft ina horizontal or substantially horizontal position above the surface; andeach loop member occupying a respective plane and being rotatablyconnected or connectable to the shaft at the loop periphery so that whenthe loop member is disposed below the shaft and in contact with or inclose proximity to said surface, the loop member may rotate about avertical or substantially vertical axis which extends through therespective plane. Game structure including different combinations ofadditional components, and games playable on a horizontal orsubstantially horizontal surface comprised of game structure of thisinvention in combination with other game components to permit ballrolling games, ring toss games, games which require a suspended net, andcombinations thereof.

Nixey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,590 describes a golf putting aid for use on aplaying surface including a plurality of polygon-shaped faces forming ahollow polyhedron with at least two of the polygon-shaped faces eachhaving a plurality of openings therethrough for receipt therethrough ofa putted golf ball. Each of the at least two polygon-shaped faces may beplaced flat against the playing surface such that an opening in anadjacent one of the polygon-shaped faces is exposed for receipttherethrough of a putted golf ball.

Cho, U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,894 describes a self-erecting collapsible netfor stopping the flight of projectiles such as a golf ball, thecollapsible net comprising: (a) a closed loop resilient coilable memberhaving a perimeter; (b) a fabric portion attached to at least a portionof the perimeter of the coilable member to stop a projectile impelledthereon; and (c) support means comprising at least one support memberextending from a portion of the perimeter of the coilable member, thesupport member including a stake bore protruding therein, the stake borebeing sized and shaped to receive a stake capable of being placed in astake pocket in a substantially horizontal surface. The collapsible netcan be expanded and disposed on said surface with one end of the stakeintroduced into the stake bore in the support member, and another end ofthe stake introduced into a stake pocket in said surface, therebyerecting the collapsible net in a substantially uprightly position suchthat the plane of the fabric is substantially transverse to saidsurface.

Our prior art search with abstracts described above teaches: a golfgame, an indoor-outdoor golf game device, a portable golf game, a golfgame apparatus, a putting game, golf game targets, a golf chip and puttpractice device and game, a multiple type target game, a yard golf gameapparatus, a projectile-target game apparatus, a novelty golf game, agolf chipping game apparatus, a portable ball practice target, a golftoss game, a game ball goal assembly, a ball and ring games and gamestructures, a golf putting aid or game, and a collapsible golf net, butdoes not teach a horizontal net apparatus and a competitive chippinggame related thereto. The present invention fulfills these needs andprovides further related advantages as described in the followingsummary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and usewhich give rise to the objectives described below.

A pair of targets are placed on a ground surface and spaced apart byabout 40 feet. Each has a smaller, upper, circular, horizontal hooppositioned above and centered on a larger, lower, horizontal hoop, whichrests on the ground surface. A net is suspended from each of the upperhoops. Players take turns chipping golf balls from one of the targets tothe other and receive points for accurately chipping the balls into thenets or within the lower hoop. The invention enables a golfer to honethe chipping skills in a manner that is superior to chipping at adriving range or merely chipping without a specific target. Thecompetitive nature of the game provides the motivation to improve onesskills.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand method of use of such apparatus that yields advantages not taught bythe prior art.

Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of providinggolf chipping practice to improve golf players' skills.

A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of providinga competitive golf-chipping pastime.

A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable ofbeing disassembled for compact storage.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In suchdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a target of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a method of play of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at leastone of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail inthe following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may beable to make alterations and modifications in the present inventionwithout departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must beunderstood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only forthe purposes of example and that they should not be taken as limitingthe invention as defined in the following.

The present invention includes a golf game apparatus and a method ofplay using the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a lower circularhorizontal hoop 10 resting on a ground surface 20, and an upper circularhorizontal hoop 30 centered on and positioned above the lower hoop 10.The upper hoop 30 is of a smaller diameter relative to the lower hoop 10as shown in FIG. 1. At least one rigid brace 40, and preferably pluralrigid braces 40, are engaged between the lower 10 and the upper 30 hoopsand thereby maintain relative positions therebetween. A net 50 issuspended from the upper hoop 30 as shown, the net 50 providing an opentop 52 and a closed bottom 54, the closed bottom positioned adjacent theground surface 20.

Preferably the hoops 10, 30 are made of a rigid tubular material such asrubber hose. The lower hoop 10 preferably has a tube diameter of between1 and 2 inches, while the upper tube 30 has a diameter of between ¾ and1½ inches. These diameters are somewhat critical in that the lower hoop10 acts as a fence or barrier to keep a golf ball 5 that lands withinthe lower hoop 10, but not in the net 50, from rolling outside the lowerhoop 10 so as to account for game points as will be described presently.

Preferably, the lower hoop 10 is between 3 and 5 feet in diameter andthe upper hoop 30 is between 1 and 3 feet in diameter. These diametersare somewhat critical in that it has been discovered that such sizes aremost appropriate for sharpening the chipping skills of golf players whenthe target is placed about 30 to 50 feet away from the chipping positionof the player. The average or typical position for a chip shoot in thegame of golf is about 40 feet. These distances are critical to thesuccessful use of the apparatus and are considered inventive in thatsignificantly different distances are not functional in the apparatus.

Preferably, the braces 40 are removably engaged with the lower 10 andupper 30 hoops so as to facilitate disassembly for compact storage ofthe apparatus. Such assembly and disassembly of the hoops 10, 30 isenabled by the use of plastic tees 42 (FIG. 1) as are well known in theart.

The above described apparatus is ideal for playing a competitive golfchipping game wherein the target described above is used in pairs (FIG.2) that are placed on a playing field 20 at an appropriate spacing asstated. Clearly, one such target may be used by one or more players forsimply practicing chipping shots. Such chipping shots are made usingany, so called, Iron golf club including a sand wedge, a “chipper” orany approach club, but not a Wood or a Metal Wood club.

The preferred method of golf game play of the present inventioncomprising the steps of placing targets, as described above, at opposingends of the field of play, and then taking turns chipping golf balls 5from each one of the targets to the other in an attempt to deposit thegolf balls 5 into the opposing nets 50. Such play may preferably takeplace in a manner similar to the well known game of pitching horseshoeswhere competing players stand near one of the targets and chip golfballs 5, in turn, toward the other of the nets 50. The positions atwhich the golf balls 5 come to rest are counted for points in asummation game where a set number of points, say 21 for instance, is thegoal of the game and the first player to reach that number is declaredthe game's winner. In other words, a game point scheme is devised tocompetitively determine a game winner and such scheme and accounting ofpoints may be selected at random and is not limited to one such schemeor another.

In one such scheme, when golf balls 5 come to rest within one of thetarget nets 50 a predetermined number of game points is given to thegolfer making that shot and this number of points is higher than thenumber of points given for merely placing the ball 5 within the opposinglower hoop 10 with the ball 5 resting on the playing surface 20 but notin the net 50. As for instance, a ball 5 in the net 50 may account for 3points while a ball 5 merely in the lower hoop 10, but not in the net50, may account for only 1 point. As stated above, the targets arepreferably spaced apart by from 30 to 50 feet and most preferably by 40feet. This spacing gives the golfer the ability to practice the chippinggame and to hone this skill in a superior manner that is not possibleusing prior art devices and methods.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and itsvarious embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of theircommonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in thisspecification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of thecommonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in thecontext of this specification as including more than one meaning, thenits use must be understood as being generic to all possible meaningssupported by the specification and by the word or words describing theelement.

The definitions of the words or elements of this described invention andits various embodiments are, therefore, defined in this specification toinclude not only the combination of elements which are literally setforth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performingsubstantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtainsubstantially the same result. In this sense it is thereforecontemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements maybe made for any one of the elements in the invention and its variousembodiments below or that a single element may be substituted for two ormore elements in a claim.

Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person withordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expresslycontemplated as being equivalents within the scope of the invention andits various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or laterknown to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within thescope of the defined elements. The invention and its various embodimentsare thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustratedand described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can beobviously substituted, and also what essentially incorporates theessential idea of the invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to at least onepreferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled inthe art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope ofthe invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appendedclaims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor(s) believe that theclaimed subject matter is the invention.

1. A golf game apparatus comprising: a lower circular hoop of between 3and 5 feet in diameter for resting on a ground surface; an uppercircular hoop of between 1 and 3 feet in diameter positioned above thelower hoop; and at least one rigid brace having tees at terminal endsthereof engaging the lower and the upper hoops and thereby maintainingrelative positions therebetween; a net suspended from the upper hoop,the net providing an open top and a closed bottom, the closed bottompositioned adjacent the ground surface; wherein the lower hoop is madeof a rigid tubular material having a tube diameter of between 1 and 2inches and the upper hoop is made of the rigid tubular material having atube diameter of between ¾ and 1½ inches, and wherein, the at least onebrace is removably engaged with the lower and upper hoops using the teesat the terminal ends thereof: whereby assembly and disassembly isfacilitated. 2-12. (canceled)
 13. A method of golf game play comprisingthe steps of: placing target nets at opposing ends of a field of play,the nets suspended from an upper hoop rigidly braced above a lower hoopresting on a ground surface of the field of play; chipping golf ballsfrom each one of the targets to the other in an attempt to deposit thegolf balls into the opposing nets; and counting golf ball positions inand around the nets in a game point scheme to competitively determine agame winner.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein golf balls coming torest within one of the target nets is scored at a higher point levelthan golf balls coming to rest on the playing surface within the lowerhoop.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein golf balls coming to restwithin the nets are scored at 3 points and golf balls coming to restwithin the lower hoop are scored at 1 point.
 16. The method of claim 13wherein the target nets are spaced apart by from 30 to 50 feet.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the target nets are spaced apart byapproximately 40 feet.